Address: Newcastle University Institute for Ageing and Institute for Health & Society
Newcastle University
Newcastle Biomedical Research Building
Campus for Ageing and Vitality
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 5PL

Background

Introduction

As Director of the Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, I facilitate an interdisciplinary network of over 700 academics involved in the broad range of ageing research and innovation work at Newcastle. In this role,I led the successful 2015 bid to Government Office/MRC for Newcastle University to host the National Centre for Ageing Science and Innovation.

My personal research programme is focused on Primary Care and Ageing and the well being of older people, especially those with dementia. Specific interests in dementia research include early intervention, end of life care and the role of assistive technologies. In 2012, I won a prestigious NIHR Translational Professorship to improve the quality of community care for people with dementia and their families.

Research

Research Interests

Health of older people in primary careDementia careAssistive and next generation technologies.Systematic reviewingPragmatic trials of complex interventions

Current Research

I led the successful £40 miIlion* bid to Government Office for Newcastle University to host the National Centre for Ageing Science and Innovation (*£20 million funding match from Newcastle University).

Total research funding won to date is around £35.6 million (£27 million as PI/co-PI) from a variety of sources including NIHR funding streams, BUPA Foundation, TSB ALIP and the Department of Health.

I currently lead:

I) 1 of 3 national Centres of Excellence in Dementia Care funded by the Alzheimer's Society and

ii) NIHR Global Health Group on Dementia Care and Prevention.

My personal research programme focuses on three themes:1)Health and wellbeing of older people in primary care: To identify factors which facilitate healthy ageing, and hence minimise dependency, as people grow older in the community. This work currently includes several major national cohort studies: Newcastle 85 study (PI Kirkwood, Newcastle), which explores the health and wellbeing of the oldest old (2004-) and MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS) (PI Brayne, Cambridge).

2) Enhancing the quality of dementia care: I am currently PI on NIHR Programme Grant looking at Supporting Excellence in End of Life care in Dementia (SEED) (2013-2018) and co-applicant on a range of studies exploring the whole spectrum of dementia care from diagnosis and early detection, through to advanced dementia and end of life care. An emerging strand of this theme is exploring the development and evaluation of assistive technologies to promote independence for people with dementia.

3) Technologies for ageing populations: Assistive technologies afford huge potential to facilitate independent living for our ageing populations. This is a new programme of work focused on the development, evaluation and implementation of assitive technolgoies for older people, especially those with dementia. This work is funded through grants from DH, ESRC Technology Strategy Board Assisted Living Platform.

Research Roles

Postgraduate Supervision

I currently supervise 4 PhD/MD students and regularly supervise MSc students and GP Specialist registrars on the Academic Innovative Posts of the Northumbria GP Vocational Training Scheme.

Esteem Indicators

RCGP National Clinical Champion for Ageing and Older People (2009-2012) Lead, Primary Care Clincial Studies Group for Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN). Primary care lead and committee member of following national committees: UK Ministerial Advisory Group on Dementia Research; National Dementia Strategy Implementation Committee; National Dementia Strategy Workforce Development Group.Invited key note speaker at national and international conferences.

Evans GE, Robinson L. The role of the family doctor in supportive care for people with dementia.
In: Hughes, J; Lloyd-Williams, M; Sachs, G, ed. Supportive care for the person with dementia. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, pp.139-148.

Grisaffi K, Robinson L. Timing of end of life care in dementia: difficulties and dilemmas for GPs.
Journal of Dementia Care 2010, 18(3), 36-39.